Debates between Baroness Morgan of Cotes and Greg Mulholland during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Baroness Morgan of Cotes and Greg Mulholland
Monday 26th October 2015

(9 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness Morgan of Cotes Portrait Nicky Morgan
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I thank my hon. Friend for that question. He will be aware that our stated ambition is that all children should have an excellent education regardless of where they live and their birth or background. I am particularly conscious of the challenges facing rural schools, and I look forward to working with him and MPs across the House on these particular challenges facing their schools.

Greg Mulholland Portrait Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD)
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T7. Free school meals was a Liberal Democrat policy achieved by the coalition Government and the pilot areas show it has improved attainment particularly for lower-income children. Will the Secretary of State now give those families the assurance and certainty they need by saying that this programme will not be reduced in the comprehensive spending review?

Baroness Morgan of Cotes Portrait Nicky Morgan
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I wonder whether the hon. Gentleman was here for the earlier exchanges on this issue. For the avoidance of doubt, let me say to him that, like all Government Departments, we are having to look at all areas of spending and at every line in the Department. However, there was a clear commitment in our manifesto to free school meals, which the Prime Minister has recently reiterated.

Oral Answers to Questions

Debate between Baroness Morgan of Cotes and Greg Mulholland
Thursday 15th October 2015

(9 years ago)

Commons Chamber
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Baroness Morgan of Cotes Portrait Nicky Morgan
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No young person should ever feel that they are not able to be honest about themselves and their sexuality for fear of bullying. Tackling all forms of bullying is a priority. We have awarded £2 million to charities and community sector organisations, to help schools tackle homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying. I have also had the privilege of visiting some schools that are tackling the issue head on, such as Eastbourne academy and Caludon Castle school in Coventry, which are both Stonewall champion schools.

Greg Mulholland Portrait Greg Mulholland (Leeds North West) (LD)
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One quarter of LGBT students at school say that they suffer online abuse. Is the Minister working with the Department for Education to provide proper advice to schools, and is she working with the National LGBT Hate Crime Partnership’s excellent Speak Up campaign to tackle this particular form of bullying and hate crime?

Baroness Morgan of Cotes Portrait Nicky Morgan
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I am open to working with all organisations in order to stamp out this hate crime. I am lucky enough to hold two Government jobs and am able to bring them together on this particular issue and provide £2 million of funding to pilot projects across the country to work with schools in order to stamp out unacceptable homophobic, biphobic and transphobic bullying. The secret seems to be to take a whole-school approach, with everybody from the head to the teachers and pupils knowing exactly that that sort of behaviour is unacceptable.